Saudi Arabia achieves solid progress in Data Inventory Report
Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in the 2024 Open Data Inventory report issued by Open Data Watch, rising to 41st place globally out of 197 countries. This marks an advancement of 28 positions compared to the year 2022 assessment. Saudi Arabia has also advanced from 15th to 9th place among G20 countries in this year’s report reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing transparency and data openness.
The ODIN report is based on two main elements, the Data Coverage Score, which measures the comprehensiveness and diversity of published official data, and the Data Openness Score, which measures the ease of access and usability of data. TheOpen Data Watch, through its official report, praised the significant progress made by the Kingdom, considering this advancement the result of ongoing efforts and notable initiatives worthy of recognition.
The Kingdom’s data coverage score increased by 16 points, and the data openness score rose by 15 points, achieving a growth of 143 percent in the overall score since 2017. This underscores its commitment to adopting global best practices in the field of open data. This national achievement is the result of the efforts of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), which leads the national statistical ecosystem.
The General Authority for Statistics has been a premier agency for developing statistical products, launching strategic indicators that support Saudi Vision 2030, expanding the provision of open data, and facilitating access through official digital platforms. In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, GASTAT has strengthened its strategy to develop IT infrastructure, enabling government entities, the private sector, and researchers to use data to support strategic planning and decision-making.
To this end, it is important to note that GASTAT’s efforts have also contributed to fostering a culture of transparency and open data, raising community awareness of the importance of data as a key driver of sustainable development and innovation. This progress in the open data inventory report reflects the Kingdom’s growing status as a regional and global hub for providing official data and statistical indicators, reinforcing its role in building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
This progress in open data inventory is also enhancing transparency, attracting investment, and keeping pace with the rapid digital transformations taking place worldwide. Saudi Arabia's Open Data Strategy aims to empower individuals, institutions, and the wider community by providing access to valuable and reusable data. The strategy supports enhanced transparency, stimulates innovation, and fosters collaboration across sectors, contributing to the development of a data-driven economy.
